Tool for tying fence wires



April 18; 1933. M'QFLFETT 1,903,830

TOOL FOR TYING FENCE WIRES Filed June 5, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ){griha Moffetf I Qw gwhb;

ATTORN EY April 18, 1933. T- v 1,903,830

' TOOL FOR TYING FENCE WIRES Filed June 5, 1951 s SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR M yrlhz Maffeii ATTORNEY QM Lmm M. MOFFETT TOOL FOR 'TYING FENCE WIRES April 18, 1933.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5', 1951 INVENTQR Mgr/512a Maffeti l aizentecl Apr. 18, I933 mama mam. OJ e se eae r nme moon FOB; TYING FENCE WIRES Application filed runes, 1931. Serial No. 542,?46.

This invention relatesto the assembling of parts of line fences of that nature which consist of horizontal wires afiixed to fence posts, and vertical wires secured to thehorizontal wires at intervals, and which are apd j H j j I v ded. with a socketed block 4 to form a templied after the horizontal wires have been placed and stretched. V i

In thus securing the wires together, I

make use of wire staples of special form and.

9 so that no twisting of the fence wires themselves is necessary; and the ob ect of thls lll Vention is to provide an apparatus by means of which such staples may be tightly wound and clamped about the wires in such a man- 5 ner that the staples are placed under a considerable tension, and the wires are consequently held together and against slipplng with considerable pressure.

Fig. l'is a perspective .view of the tool 39 locating andsupporting frame of the apparatus, shown'as arranged in connection with a fence. Y

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the frame shown in connection with the tooland the J fence wires, the tool being initiallyen aged with the staple prior to the latter' eing twisted, looking up from. below.

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the staple fully twisted. i Fig. 4 isa sectional elevationfof the tool as in place and initially engaged with a stale. I p Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tool de-' tached. Fig. 6 is a, cross section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4. i

7 is a of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective'view of the staple fill-fin its initial form. r d a j Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the

fence to be assembled includes horizontal wires l and vertical wires 2, the former be- 5. ing secured to'the end fence-posts before the wires 2 aresecured thereto. To initially position the individual wires Qinplace and to also locateand support the tool in its proper position relative to the-several wires Q9 1, I'pi'oyide a frame which consists of a'pair cross section on theli of spaced and connected uprights 3 adapted when infuse tobe placed behind the wires nd to i ns the s me nd t be su ported by the ground. J

Adjacent its lower end the frame is pro porar'ysupport for the lower end of a wire 2mm sf u d pa he. ock t being d e.- posedcentrally between the uprights.

elow the position of the wires 1, blocks 5'are removably mounted in opposed pairs on the forward face ofthe uprights. Said l s h upstanding a es 6 distress d outwardly of the uprights so as to form locating means for the wires 1, as shown n F 1g. 1. Intlns manner. the w res 1 en eas t e pi r sd es of e b ock et e base of the flanges, and are thus definitely positioned relative to the blocks. Formed with th e blocks and projecting part way .acrossthe space between the uprights are lateral extensions formed on their back sides with downwardly facing and oppositely alined saddles 8, which are thus disposed .backlof W es a d 2, he et er. beifi in front of the wires 1. I d v The tool to be usedwith the locating and pport n -sw m ca puses pac d bars 9 having a depending bend 10 at their for-; ward ends which are provided adjacent the 0 bottom with outward projecting lugs 11 adapted to seat in the saddles 8. "The'spacing of the bars is such as to enable them to readily project between the block extensions 7 and the saddles 8 from in front of the same. The front faces of the bends l0 at theiradjacent sides or edges are provided with-recesses'or grooves 12 whichare shaped and curved to conform to the bent end portion;-1 3 of the securing staple whose legs 9 l thenproject forwardly in substantially parallel relation to the bars. The spacing of the legs and the bend is such that the staple may be easily engaged with and straddle one of the wires 1 and 2 in the manner spring shank 17 on the forward split end of which are jaws 18, while its rear solid end is threaded for a certain length as at 19. The outer faces of the jaws are tapered at the back and engage the similarly tapered bore of the cylinder, so that upon pulling back on the shank, the jaws will be contracted. The cylinder is disposed so that the space between the jaws when horizontally disposed, is substantially in line with the legs of a staple supported in the bar recesses in the manner previously described, 7

Turnably mounted on the outer end of the cylinder is a hub 20 having a crank handle arm 21 projecting radially therefrom. The cylinder is provided with ratchet teeth 22 thereabout which are engaged by the dog 23 in the hub, the arrangement being such that the cylinder will rotate with the handle only when the latter is rotated in a clockwise direction. Screwed on to the part 19 back of the hub is a hand nut 24 provided with a radial bar 25 to facilitate its turning. This nut always abuts against the rear end of the cylinder and is partially overlapped and engaged by the hub in a manner to prevent outward movement of the nut relative to the cylinder without interfering with its rotation. The porion of the nut overlapped by the hub is provided with ratchet teeth 26 thereabout, which are cut in the direction opposite to those on the hub. These teeth are engaged by a dog 27 mounted in the hub and arranged to be raised when necessary by a finger pad 28 connected thereto and extending to the exterior of the hub, preferably adjacent the handle arm.

In operation the locating frame is first disposed relative to the fence as shown and described, the wire 2 to be connected is placed in position, and the staple is then engaged with the wires. The tool is then mounted in connection with the frame and so that the bars 9 straddle the wire 2 by engaging the lugs 11 by a downward movement from above the staple with a co-operating pair of saddles. The bars 9 are disposed in front of the portions 10 and above the lugs 11. The tool is then swung down somewhat so that the staple is properly located in the groove 12. With this movement of the tool, a leverage action is imparted to the staple legs, causing the bent end of the staple to snugly engage the wires 1 and 2. lVith the jaws open and horizontally disposed, the cylinder is advanced so that the staple legs project between the jaws a considerable distance. The jaws are then clamped against the legs by holding the cylinder stationary, releasing the dog 27 from the nut 24, and turning the latter in a clockwise direction to pull the jaw shank in a jaw closing direction. hen the jaws are thus tightly engaged with the staple, the cylinder is turned by means of the handle and the staple legs become consequently twisted about each other until they have assumed the position shown in Fig. 3, at which time they are tightly engaged with both wires 1 and 2, and the jaws abut against shoulders 5 formed at the forward end of the grooves. During this operation the flanges 6 prevent the wire 1 from'being bent or deflected outwardly by the pulling action of the tool, since the only portion of this wire which is free to thus bendis the very short stretch between the adjacent flanges.

It will be noted that the jaws 18, at the back of their gripping faces, which are relatively shallow, are relieved or cut back as at A so that an opening of considerable size is formed from side to side of the jaws. This feature has been found to be very essential to the proper handlin of the staples. The presence of the opening eliminates all chance of the staple legs being gripped at their outer ends, and insures such grip as being had relatively close to the bend of the legs, where a grip is most efficient in the twisting of the staple.

The opening also leaves the ends or points of the staple free to roll or move about as the staple is being twisted, which eliminates all chance of the staple pulling from the jaws with the twisting operation.

The legs of the staple, being of spring steel, then snap off at the jaws, and the cylinder can be retracted. The opening of the jaws, to en age another staple, is done by turning back on the handle arm 21. With this movement the cylinder remains stationary because the dog 23 is then merely backed around the ratchets 22. The dog 27 however being oppositely disposed, is taking hold of the ratchets 26 and will impart a retractive movement to the nut 24. The tool is then removed from the saddles and applied in connection with another wire 1 and saddle unit to again tie the next staple in place. When the wire 2 has been secured at all intersecting points, the frame structure is removed from its position and shifted to where another wire 2 is to be placed. This is easily done by lifting up on the wires 1 sufiiciently to clear the flanges 6. The frame structure may then of course be moved along the fence for similar placement wherever desired.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool for twisting staples comprising a turnable member, a support in whichsaid member is turnably mounted, single pair of opposed jawsmounted in said member for common engagement with'the ends of the staple-legs, means to clamp the jaws against the legs, and means to then rotate the jaws and member as a unit.

2. A structure as in claim 1, with means 7 provided inconnection with the support vlce-versa, a nut engaging the element and abutting against the adjacent end of the memher, a handle associated with. the member at said end whereby to turn the same.

4. A tool for twisting staples comprising a cylindrical member, a support in which said member is turnably mounted, jaws mounted in said member for engagement with the ends of the staple-legs, and projecting from one end of the member, a threaded element pro- I j ecting from the other end of the member and connected to the jaws, means between the jaws and member whereby said jaws will be contracted when the element is moved lengthwise of the member in one direction cylindrical member,

member is turnably mounted, jaws mounted,

and vice-versa, a nut engaging the element and abutting against the adj acentend of the member, a handle associated with the member; means between the handle and member to cause the same to turn together with the rotation of the handle in one direction only, and means between the handle and nut to cause the latter to turn with the handle only when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction. g

5. A tool for twisting staples comprising a a support inwhich said in said member is turnablymounted, jaws mounted in said member for engagement with the ends of the. staple-legs, and projecting from one end of the member, a threaded element projecting from the other end of the member and connected to the jaws, means between the jaws and member whereby said jaws will be contracted when the element is moved lengthwise of the member in one di rection and vice-versa, a nut engaging the element and abutting against the adjacent end of the member, a hub about the member and turnably engaging the nut to hold is moved.

the same against the member, a dog and ratchet mechanism between the member and v hub to cause the rotation ofthe handle in one direction only to turn the member, and an oppositely disposed dog and ratchet mechanismbetween the hub and nut.

6. A structure as inclaim 5, in which the dog of the last named mechanism is disengageable at will from its ratchets to enable the nut to be turned in .the opposite direction independent of any movement of the ha dle. Y A tool for tying intersecting fence wires comprising spaced bars adapted at one end to straddle one wire and under and adjacent which bars the other wire passes, means formed with thebars at said end to locate and support atying staple after the same 7 has been engaged with the crossed wires and a turnable jaw unit provided with the tool for clamping engagement with the ends of the staple and mounted in a definite relationship to the bars.

8. An apparatus for tying fence wires together-by means of staples at the points of iv intersection of the horizontal and vertical wires of the fence comprising aframe adapted to be disposed in a vertical position against the horizontal wires of the fence, means on the frame for engagementwith said wires to definitely locate them relative to the frame, I

means on the frame to temporarily support each vertical wire individually in a definite horizontal wires and position relative to the frame, atool to twist a staple engaged with the crossed wires, and means between the tool and wire locating means to removably locate the tool in a definite position relative to the crossing wires. I

' 9. An apparatus for tying fence wires together by means of staples at the points of intersection of the horizontal and vertical wires of thefence comprising a frame adapted to be disposed in a vertical-position against-the horizontal wires of the fence, said frame consisting of. spaced uprights horizon'tally alined blocks on the uprights projecting outwardly therefrom and on which the horizontal wire'rests, flanges projecting upwardly from the bloc'lrs outwardly of the plane of the wires to hold one wire in place against theuprights, means on the frame to temporarily support each vertical wire individually in a definite position betweenthe V uprightsand blocks, a tool including spaced barsto project between the uprights above a horizontal wire and straddle the vertical wire, means between thebars and blocks to removably locate the tool in a definiteposition relative to the crossed wires and a turnable jaw unit on the tool to be clamped to'the ends of a staple engaged with the crossed wires to twist the same.

10. A- structure as in claim 8, with means provided with the bars to initially locate the staple in a definite position relative to the crossed wires and jaw unit.

11. A structure as in claim 8, in which said tool locating means comprises alined saddles fixed with and projecting rearwardly from the box and between the uprights and lugs projecting laterally from the other faces of the bars at their forward end to rest in the saddles.

12. A structure as in claim 8, in which said tool locating means comprises alined downwardly facing saddles fixed with and projecting rearwardly from the blocks and between the uprights; the bars at their forward end being formed with a downward bend, and lugs projecting laterally from the outer faces of said bent portions adjacent the bottom to engage the saddles.

13. A tool for tying a staple about intersecting fence wires comprising spaced bars adapted at one end to straddle one wire and under and adjacent which bars the other wire passes, means to disengageably hold said bars against lateral movement relative to w the fence, and a turnable jaw unit mounted in connection with the bars and disposed with its axis in a plane between the bars in facing relation to said one end thereof for clamping engagement with the ends of a $9 staple engaged with the wires at their point of intersection.

14. A structure as in claim 13, in which said bar holding means comprises blocks disposed to the sides of the bars, means to 35 support the blocks from the ground adjacent the fence, and lugs projecting laterally from the bars at said one end, the blocks having saddle-grooves parallel to the lugs in which the latter removably seat.

15. An apparatus for tying horizontal and vertical fence wires together at their points of intersection by means of staples comprising means to temporarily support the horizontal wires, means to support said wire supporting means from the ground and acting therewith to also prevent relative lateral movement of said wires, means arranged in connection with said last named means to temporarily support each vertical wire individually in a definite position relative to the horizontal wires, and a tool to engage andtwist a staple engaged with the crossed wires.

16. A structure as in claim 15 in which the 55 tool includes a pair of bars arranged to initially receive the legs of a staple therebetween; there being means between said bars and the wire supporting means to detachably hold said bars against lateral move- 65 ment relative to the fence.

Tn testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MYRTHA MOFFETT. 

